Multnomah County departments suggest pay freezes to cut costs

Pay freezes - not reduced hours or furloughs - would be the least painful way to cut costs for county employees and have the least impact on county services such as the 24-hour crisis line and the jails, department leaders told Multnomah County commissioners today.

The work session was one of many to come as the county looks at slashing expenses while maintaining core services to cope with a $46 million hole in its general fund in the coming budget cycle.

County Chairman Ted Wheeler has asked all departments to show how they can cut at least 12 percent from their budgets. Significant layoffs are likely.

The county is considering shortening the work week or forcing employees to take unpaid furloughs to trim its nearly $370 million in annual personnel costs. Commissioners can make those moves without negotiating with the county's 10 unions.

The county, however, must negotiate any pay freezes with the unions. AFSCME Local 88, county employees' largest union, has said it is willing to make concessions, preferring pay freezes if they'll save some jobs. Local 88 President Becky Steward said her union will vote in early March on what concessions it will offer. Other labor unions have been more reluctant.